NEWS

On Wednesday, November 1st, BP Oddo joined with Kevin Moran, Department of Education (DOE) Executive Director of the Staten Island Field Support Center, to announce a new Hall of Science at the Michael J. Petrides campus. The 15,000 square foot space will serve K-12 students from schools across the borough.

BP Oddo allocated $500,000 in capital funding to turn the space, which had previously been used as the DOE archive center, into an immersive STEM learning environment. The facility will include eight science stations with different themes, including an arch bridge, Lite Brite pixy pegs, Bernoulli blower, hyperbolic-funnel, Ferrofluid Magnetoscope, water table, design challenge, and a race track. In addition, the upstairs area will be used as a "Makerspace," where students will learn science, math, and technology through hands-on activities.

"It will be an active science lab that is going to live and breathe. It will draw students from all across Staten Island. It's a great thing," noted BP Oddo.

"This learning environment changes the playing field for us on how kids interface hands-on environments and experiential learning -- where kids are engaged fully in an experience they'll never forget," Moran said.The project is expected to be completed in spring of 2018.